Youths face Accies this Friday

The Under 19s are in Cup action this Friday when they take on local rivals Hamilton Accies in the Third Round of the SFA Youth Cup.

With the rest of senior football taking a break for Scotland’s friendly match in Cyprus this weekend, Gordon Young’s men will be keen to progress after eliminating Arbroath in the previous round.

Accies will be keen to take the scalp of their near neighbours and contests between the two over the last few years have always been tight affairs.

The match will take place at Bathgate’s Creamery Park this coming Friday (11th November) with a 2pm kick-off.

Archive

Matchday Programme Survey

Tuesday 08 November 2011

Take part in our matchday programme survey and you could be in with a chance of winning a Motherwell signed ball.

As part of an ongoing drive to improve the match day experience for Scottish football supporters, SPL clubs are examining different elements that make up our day out at the match.

The match day programme, once a key element of the experience, has experienced falling sales in recent years and so we are exploring an opportunity to create a new programme offering to be more appealing for supporters.

Each programme would have club specific content and a Scottish football section with news and features from around the SPL, Scottish football and Scottish players in general.

We would like to hear feedback from supporters on the current programme at the club, what improvements could be made, and ultimately can we produce a better offering for supporters.

The questionnaire should only take a few minutes and all supporters that provide a valid email address will be entered into a prize draw to win a signed ball from the SPL club of their choice (one prize winner per club).

TV: Randolph gets Ireland call

Tuesday 08 November 2011

Motherwell goalkeeper Darren Randolph has been drafted into the Republic of Ireland squad for their crunch Euro 2012 play-off clash with Estonia.

The Motherwell stopper has been in sensational form again this season, keeping seven clean sheets in fourteen Scottish Premier League matches. That on the back of a club record nineteen last term; it’s easy to see why the former Charlton stopper is so highly regarded both domestically and at International level.

Randolph, 24, has been in several squads already and will battle it out with the established Shay Given and the talented Keiren Westwood for the number one jersey as Giovanni Trapattoni’s men hope to book a place in their first major championships for almost ten years.

The Irish face Estonia in Tallin this weekend with the return at the Aviva Stadium one week from today.

Motherwell 1 – 2 Celtic

Motherwell relinquished second position in the SPL, losing 2-1 to Celtic in a thrilling high-noon showdown.

Michael Higdon gave ‘Well the lead after 10 minutes, but that was cancelled out almost immediately by Anthony Stokes’ close range volley.

Sub Gary Hooper got the winner before Clancy saw red for the home team.

The midday kick off had all the makings of an instant classic, given the current circumstances of both side; Motherwell were looking to keep the momentum going after last week’s dramatic win over Inverness, knowing another three points would put them six clear of todays opponents, while Celtic had the ignominy of knowing that a loss at Fir Park would dent their title credentials even further.

Steve Jennings returned to the Well side after missing out in the Highlands with a back injury. Last week’s returning goalscorer Shaun Hutchinson dropped to the bench, pairing Craigan with Clancy at the centre of defence. Stevie Hammell recovered from the horrific gash and ankle injury suffered up north to make his 400th appearance in Claret and Amber.

Neil Lennon set out his team minus Korean midfielder Ki Sung Yeung and had Gary Hooper on the bench, with Stokes and Samaras the preferred Celtic frontline.

With Stuart McCall and Keith Lasley having been awarded October’s Clydesdale Bank Manager and Player of the Month respectively, they would have been hoping for the plaudits to keep coming.

And Motherwell started in fine fashion. Motherwell’s first attack of the game resulted in a corner, and five further corners would follow in the opening stages as ‘Well penned in their Glasgow visitors. They duly took the lead on 10 minutes.

A well worked corner between Hateley and Law found it’s way in to the box and Michael Higdon was on hand to glance the ball past Forster to make it 1-0 to Motherwell.

It was a deserved early lead for the Steelmen, but it would prove fleeting. From a whipped Kris Commons delivery, Samaras flicked a header to the back post which was unerringly volleyed in by Anthony Stokes to level what was fast becoming a pulsating encounter.

A nice passage of play between Jennings and Murphy allowed the young forward to pick out Higdon on the penalty spot, but his effort on Forster was too tame and straight; understandable given the close attention of the towering Majstorovic.

A Craigan header from a Hateley corner fell wide as the pace of the first half fell to a simmer after a boisterous first 20 minutes.

An inswinging Hateley corner – a common event in the first half – had Forster clawing the ball out from under his bar as the second half ended with Motherwell making the running.

Celtic had the first clear cut opportunity of the second half when a long ball forward found Stokes outpacing Craigan. The ‘Well captain did superbly not to trip Stokes and the Irish forward was thwarted by a terrific Darren Randolph save, with the goal at his mercy.

Motherwell had the chance to take the lead in the most magical circumstances. A wonderfully deft lob from Lasley completely bamboozled a square Celts backline and set Nicky Law through on goal, but the ball would not land quick enough for Law to get a decent shot on Forster.

In a bid to bolster their attacking options, Hooper came off the bench in place of Commons for Celtic – a measure of the visitor’s depth, and a move which would prove vital as the game progressed.

Nicky Law and Jamie Murphy created Motherwell’s first real chance of the half, when a nice back-heel from the former Rotherham man sent Murphy romping in to the box. His cross from the byline evaded any takers as Celtic cleared the danger.

Murphy was looking lively and only a touch too much in the box prevented him from getting a shot in when Humphrey’s deep cross picked him out.

Gary Hooper’s first attempt on goal was an improvised flick from a Rogne free kick, but it fell comfortably in to Randolph’s arms.

Neil Lennon’s second substitution was to bring on McCourt to replace Samaras with 15 minutes to go. It, too, would be an inspired move.

It was McCourt who would make the impact with 10 minutes remaining. The Northern Irishman’s unchallenged run saw him pick out a pass to Stokes. His centre from the byline was prodded home from close range by McCourt’s fellow sub Gary Hooper to make it 2-1 in Celtic’s favour.

It got worse for Motherwell as Tim Clancy was red carded for an off the ball spat with Hooper, all but ending any realistic hope of a turnaround.

Motherwell slip to 3rd in the SPL on goal difference due to Hooper’s late winner and will hope to bounce back away to Aberdeen on their next outing.

1min: Celtic clearly keen. Anthony Stokes with a blocked shot within seconds of the start.

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Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:

“I’ve got nothing but pride and positives to take from today’s game. There was nothing in it.

“Today I didn’t think we got what we deserved – I’ve got to be honest. I thought it was a terrific game, but we merited a point.

“I really couldn’t ask any more from my players. There are ways to lose games – although you still don’t get points either way – and I would have been proud to play in that Motherwell team today.”

Celtic assistant manager Alan Thompson:

“If you want to go and win the title then I think the game was a must-win. If we don’t win today it is virtually impossible but we hung on in there.

“So it was huge and it is a relief to get the last two games out the way. They were pressure games, no doubt about it, today more so I think.

“We keep asking the same group of players to go again. On Thursday night after going a goal behind it could have gone the other way against a great Rennes team, so it is was a relief and now we can start preparing for the next game.”

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‘Well vs Celtic: Get involved

Sunday 06 November 2011

Motherwell face Celtic this afternoon and you can be involved both during and after the match.

With the launch of MFC TV, you can now follow the match with Alex Horsburgh and Graham Barnstaple on commentary. You can also follow the match via our Twitter Feedor comment on our Facebook page.

We are also desperate for you to grab fan pics and upload them to our Flickr page. Fir Park is always a wash with colour so as opposed to snapping the action on the park, let’s have a flavour of those are supporting the side off it.

We’re also keen to hear your thoughts after the match. Give us your 140 character match report using the hash tag #celticreport and we’ll showcase the best on the official website this Monday.

Archive

Pick up a programme

Sunday 06 November 2011

The Steelmen host Celtic this afternoon and if you are coming to the match, don’t forget to pick up a matchday programme.

With a new editorial team and a new producer in Curtis Sport, the 64-page magazine has been a hit with fans in our eight home games so far this campaign and this edition is definitely one to collect.

What’s inside? Manager Stuart McCall talks candidly about the difficulties, pressures and strains of being a manager in the wake of the scrutiny of his counterpart this afternoon.

Skipper Stephen Craigan gives his view from the dressing room and there is a superb interview with star striker Jamie Murphy. The youngster talks about the Steelmen’s rise to second place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, his Scotland chances and the importance of the home support ahead of today’s clash with the Parkhead side.

There is a special 12-page section dedicated to our visitors, Celtic. Not only is there a rundown of the current squad and a review of the season so far, we get the views of Celts fan Jim Woodlock, there is an excellent common links article and Peter Elder remembers a 3-2 win against the Hoops from 1999.

And that’s not all. As well as match reports from both the Kilmarnock and Inverness, regular features such as From the Press Box with Gavin McCafferty, The Travelling Fan with Yir Elder, On This Day with Graham Barnstaple and we also take a look at ‘Well on the Web’.

Wait, there’s more! Craig Holmes is the latest to take part in our ‘FANATICS’ series. We have the latest from the Under 19s, The Ticket Office, the Commercial Department and the latest stats, facts and figures for the 2011/2012 campaign.

The programme is available for £3 and is currently on sale from the Club Shop and Jack Daniels as well as the usual sellers located in and around the ground pre-match.